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The word “commendeth” here is seldom used in common speech today. You will stumble when trying to understand this great verse unless you know what the word “commendeth” means. The Greek word means “introduces” or “exhibits” (Strong #4921). But even those English words are probably too difficult for most young people in our time. We are so limited in our vocabulary today that I’m afraid the only way you will understand the verse is by using the simple word “shows.” It’s not perfect, but at least you understand it. God “shows” His love toward us,

“in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”
      (Romans 5:8).

This verse tells us that God showed His love for us in two ways.

I. First, God showed His love for us in Christ’s death.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee told of meeting a young man, during the time of the Hippies, who had the word “love” written on his cap, on his coat, on his pants and even on his shoes. Dr. McGee asked him, “Why?” He said, “Why, man, God is love.” Dr. McGee agreed with that. But then the young man said, “God saved me by his love.” Dr. McGee replied, “I disagree with that. God does not save you by His love.” Then Dr. McGee said,

As I was talking to this young fellow with ‘love’ written on his clothing, I asked him to show me a verse in the Bible that said God saves us by love. Of course he didn’t know any…God saves us by His grace not by His love…God has demonstrated His love for you, my friend, in that He gave His Son to die for you. He paid the penalty for your sin (J. Vernon McGee, Th.D., Thru the Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983, volume IV, page 676).

The Bible says,

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

God gave His only begotten Son to die on the Cross, to pay the penalty for your sin and reconcile you to Himself. You are not saved by God’s love per se. You are saved by God’s Son – through His death on the Cross and resurrection from the grave!

The Bible teaches that the whole human race departed from God, and now lies in a ruined state.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).

And it was in this ruined, godless state that God showed His love for us by sending Christ to die on the Cross.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that…Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

The Bible teaches the vicarious death of Christ. The word “vicarious” means “substitution – taking the place of someone else – suffering endured by one person in place of another.” And that is exactly what Christ did for you. The only begotten Son of God came down from Heaven, was born in a manger, and went to the Cross to pay vicariously for your sin. He died for your sins, in your place, as your substitute, so you will not be punished for sin if you come to Christ and believe on Him. Spurgeon said,

‘Christ died for us.’ All that death could mean Christ endured; he yielded up [His spirit], he resigned his breath; he became a lifeless corpse, and his body was [buried]. ‘Christ died for us.” Consider the circumstances which attended his death. It was no common death he died; it was a death of ignominy, for he was put to death by a legal slaughter; it was a death of unutterable pain, for he was crucified; and what more painful fate than to die nailed to a cross? It was a long protracted death, for he hung [on the cross] for hours…with his hands and feet pierced…He suffered a death which for its circumstances still remains unparalleled. It was no speedy blow which crushed the life out of his body, and ended it; but it was a lingering, long and [painful] death, attended with no comforts and no sympathy, but surrounded with scorn and contempt. Picture him! They have hurled him on his back; they have driven nails through his hands and his feet; they have lifted him up. See! They have dashed the cross into its place. It is fixed. And now behold him! [See] his eyes, all full of tears; behold his head, hanging on his [chest]…Behold him, while he seems…to say, ‘I am poured out like water; all my bones are out of joint; I am brought to the dust of death.’ Hear him, when he groans, ‘I thirst.’ Above all, listen to him, while he cries, [‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’]. My words cannot picture him; my thoughts fail to express it. No painter ever accomplished it, nor shall any speaker be able to perform it…See him, with the eye of your faith, hanging on the bloody tree. Hear him cry before he dies, ‘It is finished!’ (C. H. Spurgeon, The New Park Street Pulpit, Pilgrim Publications, 1981 reprint, volume II, pp. 404-405).

See, from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
   (“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
      by Dr. Isaac Watts, 1674-1748).

I wish your heart were stirred by thinking of Christ crucified. If I told you a fictional story about someone suffering in pain, it would move your emotions. But when I tell you the true story of the crucifixion of the Son of God, you feel nothing. You have heard of it many times, so your heart is glazed over and cold. But in China, Southeast Asia, parts of India and Latin America, hearts are open, people weep for their sins and for the love of God in Christ crucified. Oh, how I wish American hearts would open to the Christ, who died vicariously for sinful man! The Blood that ran from those wounded hands and feet, ran for you! The Body that twisted in pain on the Cross, twisted in pain for you! Look by faith to Him who bore the weight and guilt of all your sin! Look by faith to Him who holds the keys to Heaven and eternal life! The instant you trust Him, all guilt is gone, all records of sin blotted out, and peace with God restored.

Wounded for me, wounded for me,
   There on the cross He was wounded for me,
Gone my transgressions, redemption is free,
   All because Jesus was wounded for me.
(“Wounded for Me” by W. G. Ovens, 1870-1945
   and Gladys W. Roberts, born 1888).

God showed His great love for us by sending Christ Jesus to die in our place and take our punishment.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that…Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

But I left one phrase out of our text, and that phrase will be the subject of our next point.

II. Second, God showed His love for us in Christ’s death,
“while we were yet sinners.”

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

You must not think that God will accept you if you try to be good.

No outward forms can make you clean,
The leprosy lies deep within.

The tentacles of your sinful nature are inherited from the first man who sinned, Adam, the head of our race.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men” (Romans 5:12).

Each and every human being is, thus, born “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). Sin has deadened your understanding of God. Sin has implanted within you a heart which is rebellious to God. Sin has cut you off from God and made Him seem unreal to you. But, thank God, He Himself has provided a way for you to escape the sentence of judgment for sin that hangs over you!

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

In another verse of Scripture, the Apostle Paul said,

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”
      (I Timothy 1:15).

Christ died for us while we were continual sinners. We have not sinned once, or twice, but many thousands of times. However clean and good you appear outwardly, you have been stained by countless sins.

Notice also that He died for you even though you have grown worse and worse over time. I know that there are some of you here this morning who are fast becoming great sinners. Doesn’t this show Christ’s love for you, that He should die to save sinners who are greatly and continually sinful?

Think again. You are sinning against the very person who died for you! It is strange that the very Christ who died for you is the one you sin against. Have you ever mocked Christ? Have you ever refused to come to Christ? Have you counted Him as an unimportant person in your life? If you have done any of that, you have sinned against the very person who died to save you!

Once more, remember that some of you have sinned against Christ by despising Him. Haven’t you thought you could be saved some other way, and that you didn’t need Christ to save you at all? What is this but despising the Son of God who died so you could live and be pardoned, and enter paradise through Him? I know you wouldn’t want to admit that you despise Him, but isn’t it a fact that, by rejecting Him, you really do despise Him, look down on Him, and think His death on the Cross is unimportant?

I have known people who did their best to stop a Christian from witnessing to a dying relative.  I have known people who shouted at the Christian to stop witnessing.  This is what we mean by despising Christ.

“Oh,” you say, “I would never do that!” And yet, in a more quiet and civilized way, don’t you do the same thing every time you are asked to come to Christ? Don’t you refuse Christ just as much as the person who stops a Christian from witnessing to a dying relative? Oh, I know you are too well mannered and civilized to shout, or to say openly that you reject Christ. But isn’t it true that you have been just as belligerent as those who try to stop Christians from witnessing to dying relatives? When again and again you refuse to come to Christ in simple faith, are you not rebelling against the love of God in Christ? And yet Jesus died for rebellious sinners who despise Him – sinners just like you! He died for you even though you have despised and rejected Him!

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”
      (I Timothy 1:15).

What have I preached to you this morning? I have preached the pure message of Christianity, given on page after page in the Bible, preached by faithful ministers across the ages of time. I have preached the everlasting gospel,

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Will you this morning give up your narrow minded religious prejudices and opinions – and come to Christ Jesus, the one who loved you so much that He gave up His life on the Cross to save you from judgment for your sins? The very last sermon Christ gave in the Gospel of Mark contained these words,

“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16).

If you neglect and sneer at Jesus, what hope do you have of ever being reconciled to God? What hope do you have of ever entering into Heaven? What hope do you have of escaping the everlasting flames?

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Will you come to Jesus? Will you trust Him with all your heart? Will you accept the love God has shown for you by sending Him to the Cross to atone for your sins? Will you receive the love of God in sending Him to save you “while [you] were yet sinners”? Will you trust Christ Jesus, and have Him as your Saviour and Lord? May God help you to receive Him and be saved this very day!

Let us stand and sing number 7 on the song sheet. Lift up your song sheet and sing out thoughtfully and with full force.

Come, every soul by sin oppressed,
   There’s mercy with the Lord,
And He will surely give you rest
   By trusting in His Word.
Only trust Him, only trust Him,
   Only trust Him now.
He will save you, He will save you,
   He will save you now.

For Jesus shed His precious blood
   Rich blessings to bestow;
Plunge now into the crimson flood
   That washes white as snow.
Only trust Him, only trust Him,
   Only trust Him now.
He will save you, He will save you,
   He will save you now.
(“Only Trust Him” by John H. Stockton, 1813-1877).

(END OF SERMON)
You can read Dr. Hymers' sermons each week on the Internet
at www.realconversion.com. Click on "Sermon Manuscripts."

Scripture Read Before the Sermon by Dr. Kreighton L. Chan: Romans 5:1-10.
Solo Sung Before the Sermon by Mr. Benjamin Kincaid Griffith:
“Saved by the Blood of the Crucified One” (by S. J. Henderson, 19th century).